DVD Collectors Online

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, a review by Tom

Title: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Year: 1999
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Rating: FSK-6
Length: 188 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: German

Stars:
Salman Khan
Ajay Devgan
Aishwarya Rai
Zohra Sehgal
Vikram Gokhale

Plot:
When Salman asks for Ash's hand in marriage her family refuses. They have already chosen a husband for their daughter. Salman returns to Italy. When Ajay, Ash's new husband realizes that his new bride has been in love with someone else, he is prepared to sacrifice his love for her and take her to Italy to be reunited with her true love, Salman.

Awards:

Filmfare Awards	2000	Nominated	Best Actor Award	Ajay Devgan
Filmfare Awards	2000	Nominated	Best Actor Award	Salman Khan
Filmfare Awards	2000	Won	Best Actress Award	Aishwarya Rai
Filmfare Awards	2000	Won	Best Background Score Award	Anjan Biswas
Filmfare Awards	2000	Won	Best Choreography Award	Saroj Khan
Filmfare Awards	2000	Won	Best Director Award	Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Filmfare Awards	2000	Won	Best Male Playback Award	Udit Narayan
Filmfare Awards	2000	Won	Best Movie Award
Filmfare Awards	2000	Nominated	Best Music Director Award	Ismail Darbar
Filmfare Awards	2000	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor Award	Ajay Devgan
Filmfare Awards	2000	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor Award	Salman Khan
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Actress	Aishwarya Rai
IIFA Awards	2001	Won	Best Background Score	Amrik Gill
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Choreography	"Nimbooda": Saroj Khan
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Cinematography	Anil Mehta
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Dialogue	Amrik Gill
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Director	Sanjay Leela Bhansali
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Male Playback	"Chand Chhupa": Udit Narayan
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Movie
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Screen Play	Sanjay Leela Bansali
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Sound Recording	Jeetendra Chaudhary
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Sound Re-Recording	Sushmita Sen
IIFA Awards	2000	Won	Best Story	Pratap Karvat, Sanjay Leela Bansali

Extras:
Bonus Trailers
Karte
Music Videos
Poster
Scene Access
Trailers

I had high expectations for this. Not that I would think it will be a masterpiece, but I thought for sure that this will be a movie I will enjoy. It has won a lot of awards and it is written and directed by the same guy who has written and directed "Black".
But I was disappointed. The characters were flakey and rather unlikable in the beginning. And even though I enjoy the music in these films, there was too much of it in this one. There was more focus on it than it usually is. Because of this there wasn't really much story. It got better towards the end, but I don't think this will be a movie that I can watch again and again.

Rating:

(From Tom's Alphabet Marathon Reviews on July 8th, 2010)

The Last Airbender, a review by Dragonfire

The Last Airbender

I have heard of the carton, but I haven't seen it.  I really have no idea what was changed for the movie - though I'm sure some stuff was..it always is.  I also don't know why the decision was made to make it a live action movie instead of animated like the cartoon.

The story is interesting.  It seems like it will be rather complicated after a few things are set up, but it really isn't.  Too many scenes drag on too long.  That doesn't just happen early in the movie when characters are introduced and the situation is set up.  Some of scenes fairly late in the movie drag too much as well.  Things do pick up every so often, but as soon as the action is done - courtesy of some fights between the various benders - the pace slows back down.  The pacing is very uneven.  I enjoyed the movie overall and didn't get bored, but I do think the pace is a bit too slow overall.  For what happens in this movie, there isn't a need for a slow build up.

The action scenes are done well and it does look cool when the water or fire is being controlled by a bender and used in a fight.  There don't seem to be any lingering effects to the elements though.  Characters hit by the water aren't wet..characters hit by the fire aren't burned or singed.  I have no idea if that is how it worked in the cartoon, but it is a bit odd.  The fighting is done with the different elements, so there really isn't much in the way of violence. 

Character development is lacking for all the characters.  A little more is shared about Aang, but it isn't enough.  Katara is a bit better, but her brother Sokka really suffers, seeming to just be tagging along.  The Fire Lord is just trying to further the Fire Nation's domination.  Prince Zuko has a bit more motivation, but he still comes across as a flat character. 

From what I've read after seeing the movie, it is based on the first season of the animated series.  I've also read that this is supposed to be the first movie in a trilogy..though I've heard that about other movies before and the other movies still haven't been made.  So who knows.  I would see the other movies if they get made because I think the story is interesting even though the pacing is messed up. 



I did get a review posted on Epinions.

The Last Airbender

(From The Last Airbender on July 11th, 2010)

"Big Bang Theory" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: The two theoretical physicists Leonard and Sheldon get a new Neighbour: Penny, a waitress in The Cheesecake Factory. And suddenly two galaxies begin to crash into each other.

My Opinion: I liked the series from the beginning, all these cultural references gave me a happy. But I also liked the small details like Howards' belt buckle (this time a Nintendo gamepad --> look out for it, it changes from episode to episode!) and the "table of elements" shower curtain.

Synopsis: After he's seen the chaos that is Penny's appartment, Sheldon cleans it (and Leonard helps him) during the night while Penny's sleeping. Naturally she freaks out when she realizes what they've done.

My Opinion: I think every episode of the first season is funny as hell, so no point repeating it over and over again. The  best scenes of this episode were the discussion about Lois Lane's fall and the re-design of the IKEA media center.

Synopsis: After having no luck with Leslie, Leonard tries to ask Penny out to a date. But she totally misinterprets the invitation, thus not considering it a date.

My Opinion: I recognized Sarah Gilbert (Leslie; Darlene in Roseanne) at once but I needed a friend to really open my eyes. I didn't think I knew Johnny Galecki (Leonard) from anywhere until my friend pointed out that he played Darlene's friend David on Roseanne.

Synopsis: Sheldon gets canned after he's insulted his new boss in his very own - and typical - way. But he uses his time off to invent new things the world was waiting for, e.g. a luminous fish as a night light.

My Opinion: First Sarah and now Laurie Metcalf (Jackie in Roseanne). It's like family reunion. I am wondering where the authors get all these ideas, e.g. to make a physicists weaving his own poncho. It's hilarious. I also find it terribly funny when Sheldons asks things or answers to questions with no regard to the appropriateness.

Synopsis: After they been practicing with their classical instruments, Leonard sleeps with Leslie and is now torn between his fantasy about Penny and the prospect of having a real relatuonship with Leslie.

My Opinion: And again it's Sheldon and his not having a clue about social conventions that makes me laugh the most ("Message received!"). But the entire banana scene was also really great.

Synopsis: Penny invites the four - Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj - over to a Halloween party and Leonard hopes that he can present himself in another light during that party.

My Opinion: Nerds. All the costumes were great and also the commentaries about them (Flashs walk in row; hobbit vs. elf; Robin Hood vs. Peter Pan) and I also really liked the closing scene.

(From "Big Bang Theory" Marathon on September 23rd, 2008)